German Reinheitsgebot Beer Purity Law to Celebrate its 500th Anniversary on 4/23!

(04/15/2016)

In just a little over a week, beer fans around the world will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, the German beer purity law. The law was originally enacted on April 23, 1516 by Munich’s Duke William IX, who was worried that beer was becoming adulterated. The original Reinheitsgebot rules stipulated that only three ingredients could be used in the making of beer: barley, hops and water. The law was later amended to include yeast, after that important ingredeient was later discovered.

Despite the rule’s intentions, the Reinheitsgebot has not been without its detractors, especially in a modern beer culture that likes pushing the boundary of what is accepted. Still, the historical importance of a beer law that has stood for half a millennium is hard to debate, meaning on April 23 this year, when beer drinkers celebrate the Day of German Beer, a national celebration in honor of the enactment of the Reinheitsgebot, it will have that much more meaning.

Big Dog's is celebrating with not one BUT two new beers being released this week in honor of the celebration. One is a solid example of Reinheitsgebot and the other is a solid example of ReinheitsgeNOT.

Amarillo Boy("I'm-a-real-boy”) Is a hoppy lager that we brewed in accordance to the German Purity Law, using only barley, hops, water, and yeast. We used a single variety hop called Amarillo in both the brew and dry hop, and fermented it with the famous German Weihenstephan yeast strain. The use of pale specialty malts gives the beer it's straw/pale color. The beer will pour crisp, with a frothy white head, and have a medium hop bitterness. You will notice aromas of sweet and fruity citrus imparted by the hops and a clean beer profile due to the yeast. Amarillo Boy sits at 5.3% abv and has an estimated IBU’s of 45.

Ain't GerMANGO Is the complete opposite to Amarillo Boy, hence "ain't German" in the name. A lactobacilli soured beer that we used ingredients not traditional to the German purity law including, rice, wheat, corn, rye, oats, fruit, and bacteria (to sour)to name a few. We used many different things to make this an "impure beer" and wanted to showcase a flavorful beer that does not follow the 500 year tradition of Reinheitsgebot. This brew will pour crisp, light orange in color and cloudy with a dissipating head. It will have an abundance of mango on the nose and flavor, as we used 170lbs of all natural puréed mango. The lactic souring, provided by lactobacilli, and carbonation will give the beer a puckering quality. The use of a Belgian yeast strain adds to the fruity character and provides a touch of bubblegum. The different specialty grains give a nice roundness in the mouthfeel and finish. Ain’t GerMango sits at 5.8% abv and has an estimated IBU’s of 5.

Available at the brewery this week and coming soon to select accounts in the valley the following week.